Lindsey Wilson College Early years and a special tribute to Martha Henry Berry. Something you may not know about LWC, Victor P. Henry, my friend, Martha Berrys father, who served as president from 1942-54, was brought in by the Louisville Conference of the Methodist Church to CLOSE Lindsey Wilson College, But New Life was born! Henry fought to keep the college open by increasing enrollment and serving four years without a salary and for five years as superintendent of the Louisville Conferences Columbia District. By one vote, the Louisville Conference voted to keep the college open in 1942. During Henrys 12-year administration, the college expanded its library to a free-standing building and bought additional farmland. The college was accredited for the first time. Also during his tenure, the first international students enrolled at LWC, through Henrys past work as a missionary in Cuba. Many of the campus buildings during Henrys presidency -- especially following World War II -- were furnished with government surplus furniture. Henry acquired much of the furniture from serving as chaplain with Kentuckys American Legion post. He sent the college truck out to bring the furniture back to the campus, recalled Martha Henry Berry, Henrys daughter. Even some of the buildings were government surplus. He never turned down a donation, whether it was monetary or material. Also, during the early years of Henrys administration, some of the colleges professors served for half-salary. So the move to improve the colleges finances was a joint resolution, a sacrifice from most, if not all, on campus, Berry said. Because of those sacrifices across campus, the college survived the 1940s and was poised for an expansion that began in the 1950s. (Taken from the records of the LWC website)
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 08:42:45 +0000